Device for developing football passing proficiency



0a. 20, 1970 w; w, LIPSCQMB 3,534,958

DEVICE FOR DEVELOPING FOOTBALL PASSING PROFICIENCY Filed Nov. 4, 1968 2 Shets-Shet 1 INVENT'OR WYATT w. LIPSCOMB ATTORNEY Oct. 20, 1970 w, w, sc 3,534,958

DEVICE FOR DEVELOPING FOOTBALL PASSING PROFICIENCY Filed Nov. &, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 43 38 39 40 42 Y I v 3| fi G J" I 0 A 1' FIG. 5

FIG. 6

VARIABLE FIXED TRANSFORMER TRANSFORMER I 6| 0 7 ,|4 ,sl ,50 {3| POWER FIXED TIMER LAMP MOTOR MOTOR SUPPLY TRANSFORMER RELAY RELAY ,44 ,38 FAN MOTOR LAMP r INVENTOR' FOOTBALL TIMER WYATT W. LIPSCOMB SWITCH RELAY FIG. 8 -I AT TORNEY United States Patent 01 lice 3,534,958 Patented Oct. 20, 1970 3,534,958 DEVICE FOR DEVELOPING FOOTBALL PASSING PROFICIENCY Wyatt W. Lipscomb, 3618 Douglas Drive, Garland, Tex. 75040 Filed Nov. 4, 1968, Ser. No. 784,976 Int. Cl. A63b 69/00 US. Cl. 273-55 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for developing proficiency in and testing the accuracy of football passing wherein lifting a football from a cradle while depressing the cradle initiates a selective time delay circuit, and, after the pre-set time delay elapses, relays close energizing a reversible electric drive motor and a lamp. The reversible electric drive motor activates a mechanism which moves a rotatable tube about its axis while the lamp projects light through a lens system and from a mirror carried by the rotatable tube so that the lightbeam is incident on a wall. The beginning position and direction of movement of the rotatable tube is pre-set.

This invention relates to a device for developing proficiency in and testing the accuracy of football passing. A light beam moving along a Wall or screen is the hypothetical pass receiver. If the passer hits the moving spot of light with the football he has completed a pass. In operation lifting a football from a cradle while depressing the cradle initiates a selective time delay circuit, and, after the pre-set time delay elapses, relays close energizing a reversible electric drive motor and a lamp. The reversible electric drive motor activates a mechanism which moves a rotatable tube about its axis while the lamp projects light through a lens system and from a mirror carried by the rotatable tube so that the light beam is incident on a wall. The beginning position and direction of movement of the rotatable tube is pre-set.

Seldom is one football team able to mount consecutive on-the-ground drives against an evenly matched opponent. Thus passing makes the difference. But in the game of football, scholastic quarterbacks are rated as great if they can achieve a 50% pass completion average. Why should a 50% average on pass completion seem to be a practical ceiling? The answer is that in high school and collage play practice time is limited. There is never the time to develop the timing and accuracy needed to go beyond a certain point. Further there are only a limited number of practice patterns which receivers can be asked to run at full speed. Reserve quarterbacks labor under an additional handicap since they throw day after day to second-string receivers and are then thrust into a game suddenly and are expected to hit the regular receivers running at full speed.

Even in the professional ranks where the pass completion average may run higher, veteran quarterbacks have their problems.

Passing is not, however, limited to quarterbacks. Some of the longest gains today come off the halfback option pass.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide a device for improving the timing and accuracy of a football passer.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for improving the proficiency of a football passer which device is not limited to application at the practice field.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device for improving the proficiency of a football passer which obviates the necessity for running receiver patterns endlessly.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a device for testing accuracy of football passing.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a device which can be programmed for the exact characteristics of speed, distance and height of the teams primary receivers.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a device enabling pass practice to be conducted as a one-man affair.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a device which can be utilized for indoors pass practice during inclement Weather or after nightfall.

Still yet another object of this invention is to provide a portable device for developing football passing proficiency.

Other objects and advantages of the invention disclosed herein will readily become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention showing a beam of light projected against a wall.

FIG. 2 is a right rear perspective view of the embodiment of the invention depicted in FIG. 1 with the cover removed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rotatable tube or turret and the mechanism for imparting rotational movement.

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the lamp and lens system.

FIG. 5 is a left rear perspective view of the embodiment of the invention depicted in FIG. 1 with the cover removed.

FIG. 6 is a right front perspective view of the embodiment of the invention depicted in FIG. 1 with the cover removed.

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of another mechanism for imparting rotational movement to the rotatable tube or turret.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the electrical system of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in FIG. 1 one embodiment of the invention is shown with the beam of light 1 projecting the spot 2 on wall 3. The subject of the invention is shown perspectively in the unit 4 having legs 5, cover 6, fork 7 on which football 8 is cradled, control 9, and electrical power cord 10. Leveling screws 11 protrude from the ends of legs 5.

The operation of the invention can best be understood by studying FIGS. 2 through 6. The controls on the control panel 9 are speed computer 12, position or pattern control 13, time delay computer 14, and main or off-on switch 15. Also located on the control panel 9 are off-on indicator light 16, fuse 17, and counter 18.

The legs 5 which may be folding and telescoping legs are folded out and extended down until they are locked at the desired height or elevation. Conventional folding telescoping legs with various stop lock positions may be used. Level adjustment may be made by means of the leveling screws 11. Level gauge 19 may be mounted in the instrument panel.

The unit 4 is placed at the distance from the wall 3 or screen that the passer desires to practice throwing. The unit 4 hypothetically sits on the line of scrimmage with its instrument panel 9 parallel to the wall 3 which the passer is throwing against. The more exact the distance from the wall 3 is figured and the more nearly parallel the instrument panel 9 is to the wall 3, the more accurate the unit 4 will operate.

The electrical power cord 10 is plugged into a suitable source of electrical power. The embodiment of the invention depicted is adapted for normal operation off of a 110-120 volt alternating current source; however the unit 4 could be modified or adapted to operate off of other types of electrical power.

The fork 7 is inserted in the activator arm 20 and the thumb screw 21 is tightened. Activator arm 20 activates football switch 22 which may be a suitable microswitch when the football 8 is placed on the fork 7.

The speed computer 12 controls the speed of movement of the turret 23 and thereby controls the speed of movement of the light beam 1 and of the resultant spot target 2 on the wall 3. The speed computer 12 is set for the speed of the runner to whom the passer anticipates passing. The straight away speed of the potential run is normally chosen since this is the speed against which the passer will be throwing under actual game conditions.

The pattern control 13 controls the direction in which the turret 23 moves and thereby controls the direction of movement of the light beam 1 and of the resultant spot target 2 on the wall 3. The pattern control 13 also controls the starting position of the turret 23 and the starting position of the spot target 2 on the wall 3. Depending on the setting of the pattern control 13, the light beam may move from right to left or from left to right. The light beam actually traverses a maximum of 120 degrees. In the embodiment shown if the pattern control 13 dial is set to the left of center the light beam 1 travels from left to right. If the dial is pointing to the right of center, the light will travel from right to left.

The time delay computer 14 is a simple time delay which may be marked in .10 of a second. The time delay computer 14 allows for a pre-set delay from the time the football 8 is raised from the fork 7 before the light comes on and the light beam 1 starts moving the spot 2 along the wall. The time delay reflects the time it takes after the center snaps back the football before the pass receiver gets from the line of scrimmage down field to the place when he cuts and starts his pass pattern.

After the unit 4 is turned on by flipping the main switch 15 to on, the unit is set by depressing the football holder or fork 7. The unit 4 runs the pattern previously set and then sets up for the new pass pattern setting.

The counter 18 which may be an electrical counter or other suitable mechanical or electromechanical counter is set at by depressing the button 124. The counter 18 is used to keep track of the number of plays or passes attempted.

The football 8 is placed on the fork 7, and the unit 4 is activated by depressing the fork 7 which is attached to the activator switch 22. The passer quickly picks up the football and moves to the point from which the pass is to be made because the unit throws the spot target 2 on the wall 3 at the same time that the receiver would reach that place on the field. When the unit 4 is level, the light target 2 sweeps across the wall 3 at an even distance from the floor.

Any diagonal pass pattern can be duplicated by adjusting the line of scrimmage. Since the control panel 9 is parallel to the wall 3, the passer adjusts the line of scrimmage in his imagination.

The correct setting for speed computer 12 may be readily ascertained by the coach or passer. The maximum sweep of the light spot target 2 is 120 degrees. At one yard from the wall to the unit 4, the spot target 2 will travel 5.5 yards on the wall. By knowing the distance from the unit 4 to the wall 3, the distance that the spot target 2 will travel on the wall is easily determined using the equation A=5.5B where A is the distance the spot target 2 will travel on the wall and B is the distance of the unit 4 from the Wall. To find the time it would take the pass receiver to traverse the distance that the spot target 2 Will travel on the wall the following equation is used: N =AC where N is the time it would take the pass receiver to traverse the distance that the spot target 2 will travel on the wall, A

' 4 is the distance the spot target 2 will travel on the wall, and C is the speed of the receiver per yard.

Rotatable tube 23 is rotatable about its axis and in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mechanism illustrated in FIG. 3 is utilized to impart the rotational movement to rotatable tube 23. The mechanism depicted in FIG. 3 is a modified Scotch yoke including Scotch yoke slide 24, including sections 24a and 24b, pulleys 25 and 26, wire 27, turret cam- 28, reciprocating elements 29 and 30; and motor 31. As the motor 31 moves the pin 32 projecting from element 29 back and forth in slot 33 of arm element 30, the Scotch yoke slide 24 attached to the wire 27 by screws 34 and 35 moves the wire 27 over pulleys 25 and 26 and across turret cam 28 thus imparting rotational movement to rotatable tube 23. The Scotch yoke slide 24 rests on bearing blocks 36 and 37.

The optical system includes lamp 38 which may be a 500 watt iodide bulb, condensing lens 39, iris 40, reflector or mirror 41, turret lens 42, and turret reflector or mirror 43 which in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 is placed at a degree angle to the top of turret 23. The blower motor 44- and fan 45 keep the lamp 38 cool. The lamp 38 is mounted base up in the bottom of receptacle 46.

Other elements shown in FIG. 2 are transformers 47 and 48 which are step down transformers. In the embodiment of FIG. 2 the transformers step down the line voltage to 24 volts. Transformer 47 steps down the voltage to the time computer which is controlled by time delay computer knob 14. Transformer 48 steps down the voltage to the motor 31 which moves the turret 23.

Relays 49, 50, and 51 operate as follows: Relay 49 controls the timer on-oif. Relay 50 controls the motor 31 on-off. Relay 51 controls the lamp 38 on-off.

Motor speed control 52 controls the speed of motor 31.

Position control switch 53 is controlled by position control knob 13.

Although a modified Scotch yoke assembly as illustrated in FIG. 3 is utilized in the embodiments of FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6, other mechanisms including a screw and lever arrangement or the chain drive illustrated in FIG. 7 may be used. Note the chain 54 carrying pin 55, the motor driven sprocket 56, the idler sprocket 57, the slotted arm 58, the light tube 59, and the 45 degree mirror 60. As the chain 54 is moved by the motor driven sprocket 56, the pin 55 which is fastened to the chain 54 engages the slot in the slotted arm 58 and, as the pin 55 moves, it imparts motion to the slotted arm 58 and thereby rotates the light tube 59.

FIG. 8 shows in block diagram form the e ectrical system of the unit 4. Power'supply 61 is connected to electrical power cord 10. Electrical power cord 10 is connected to motor relay 50 through step down transformers 48 and 62. The motor relay 50 is connected to motor 31. The power cord 10 is connected to the lamp relay 51 through the time delay computer 14 and the step down transformer 47. The blower or fan motor 44 is also connected to the electrical power cord 10. Football switch or micro switch 22 is connected at one end between the fixed transformer 47 and the timer 14. The timer relay 49 is connected between the football switch 22 and the timer 14. Transformer 62 is a variable transformer. The lamp relay 51 is also connected to the motor relay 50 and the lamp 38.

Although in the embodiment of the invention described, lifting a football from a cradle while depressing the cradle initiates a selective time delay circuit, the switching may be arranged so that the lifting of the football per se initiates the selective time delay circuit.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes, modifications, and substitutions may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A device for developing football passing proficiency including actuating means activated responsive to the lifting of a football, a source of light, a lens system for projecting the light from the source of light, and a rotatable reflector, wherein the source of light is turned on when the activating means is activated responsive to the lifting of a football and said actuating means moves the rotatable reflector to project a moving light target along a surface.

2. A device for developing football passing proficiency including actuating means activated responsive to the lifting of a football, a source of light, a lens system for projecting the light from the source of light, and a rotatable tube including reflector means rotatable therewith, wherein the source of light is turned on when the actuating means is activated responsive to the lifting of a football and said actuating means moves the rotatable tube to project a moving light target along a surface.

3. A device for developing football passing proficiency as described in claim 2 in which the actuating means includes a drive motor and a modified Scotch yoke wherein the motor moves a pin projecting from a reciprocating element back and forth in the slot of another reciprocating arm element and a Scotch yoke slide connected to the reciprocating arm element and attached to a wire moves said wire over pulleys and across a cam on the rotatable tube thus imparting rotational movement to the rotatable tube.

4. A device for developing football passing proficiency as described in claim 2 in which the actuating means includes a drive motor and a chain drive mechanism wherein the motor moves a chain and a pin fastened to the chan engages the slot in a slotted arm so that as the pin moves it imparts motion to the slotted arm and thereby rotates the rotatable tube.

5. A device for developing football passing proficiency as described in claim 2 in which the lens system includes a condensing lens, an iris, and a first reflector mounted on the device, a lens mounted in the rotatable tube, and in which said reflector means comprises a second reflector mounted at the top of the rotatable tube so that light from the sourec of light passes through the condensing lens and the iris and is then reflected by the first reflector through the rotatable tube and the lens mounted in the rotatable tube to fall incident on the second reflector which projects the light beam along the surface to be scanned.

6. A device for developing footba l passing proficiency as described in claim 2 including a selective time delay circuit which delays the activation of the actuating means for a pre-set time period.

7. A device for developing football passing proficiency as described in claim 6 in which the selective time delay circuit includes at least one relay.

8. A device for developing football passing proficiency as described in claim 2 including means for pre setting the starting position and direction of movement of the rotatable tube about its axis.

9. A device for developing football passing proficiency as described in claim 2 including means for adjusting the height of the moving light target.

10. A device for developing football passing proficiency as described in claim 2 including means for counting each cycle of rotation of the rotatable tube to keep a running record of the number of passes attempted.

11. A device for developing football passing proficiency as described in claim 2 including means for adjusting and determining the level of the device.

12. A device for developing football passing proficiency as described in claim 2 including means for pre-setting and controlling the speed of movement of the rotatable tube.

13. A device for developing football passing proficiency including actuating means activated responsive to the lifting of a football, a source of light, a lens system for projecting the light from the source of light, a rotatable reflector, wherein the source of light is turned on when the actuating means is activated responsive to the lifting of a football and said actuating means moves the rotatable reflector to project a moving light target along a surface, a selective time delay circuit which delays the activation of the actuating means for a pre-set time, means for pre-setting the beginning position and direction of movement of the rotatable reflector, and means for presetting and controlling the speed of movement of the rotatable reflector as it rotates about its axis.

14. A device for developing football passing proficiency including actuating means activated responsive to the lifting of a football, a source of light, a lens system for projecting the light from the source of light, a rotatable tube having a mirror mounted at a 45 degree angle to its top surface, wherein the source of light is turned on when the actuating means is activated responsive to the lifting of a football and said actuating means moves the rotatable tube to project a moving light target from the mirror and along a wall, a selective time delay circuit which delays the activation of the actuating means for a preset time, means for pre-setting the beginning position and direction of movement of the rotatable tube, and means for pre-setting and controlling the speed of movement of the rotatable tube as it rotates about its axis.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,419,272 12/1968 Miller et al 273 X 3,467,380 9/1969 Bonacci 273-55 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner T. BROWN, Assistant Examiner 

